Throughout history, conquering countries have said, “worship what you want, as long as you also worship our gods.” The Romans required that. Five hundred years earlier, the Babylonians insisted the same of the Israelites. Daniel Chapter 3 is a prime example of that….
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Grab your favorite brew and visit a few minutes with Encouragement from Living History. That sums up my blog: thoughts grounded in the Bible, sprinkled with interesting tidbits from history, all applied to life today. Readers say, “I learn something new every time I read your blog.” Here’s an open invitation to sit a few minutes now and come back often to share your thoughts.
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Daniel’s Early Years in Babylon: What’s in a name?
Decades before Daniel spent a night in the lions’ den, he was a teenager in Jerusalem, looking forward to the rest of his life. Little did he know how his life would abruptly change—even down to his name….
Obstacles or Opportunities: 7 lessons from the Israelite spies in Canaan
Part of my journey in getting treated for Lyme disease involved three cross-country moves. The second was to Texas. Maps told me it was big, but I had no idea HOW BIG….
Lord, Make Me a Pillar when the Earth Shakes
Have you ever felt like everybody is doing OK except you?…
How Much Should Your Heart Weigh?
Ancient Egyptians believed that they gained entry into the afterlife only after Ma’at, the goddess of justice, weighed their heart. She placed it on a balance scale opposite virtue, represented by a feather. If the heart balanced the scales, the deceased would gain a wonderful afterlife. A heart laden with misdeeds would tip the scale, condemning the person to a horrible oblivion….
Finding God in Grammar
Confession: I didn’t pay attention in high school English and skipped a third of my classes for my university’s English requirement. I winged English composition. I hated diagramming sentences and refused to memorize grammar rules….
Grocery Lists, Gridirons, and Grace
Are you a list maker? A few weeks ago, I conducted a Twitter poll to see how many people habitually make lists. I was astounded at the comments it generated. Many people said they included tasks they’d already done just so they could feel good about crossing something off their list….
When Light Pierces the Darkness
If you’ve seen or read about the movie Sound of Freedom, you know its topic. But you may not know what the director intentionally inserted into every scene. Light….
Turning Back Time: Four Days in the Story of Lazarus
If you could, would you turn back time to seize the opportunities you missed? Correct the mistakes you made? (oblique reference to Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) Let’s turn back time to a seemingly insignificant but pivotal detail in Lazarus’s story….
Xerxes and Vashti: What Comes After Life Interrupted?
The book of Esther is full of stories about people whose lives didn’t turn out as planned, so I want to end this series by touching on two of them: King Xerxes and Queen Vashti….
